Charta Transmissionis (a.k.a “The Charter of Larmenius”)

Charta Transmissionis

The Latin text here is taken from the OSMTH page. I have checked it against Acta Latomorum where it first appears in printed form. As a result a few transcription errors have been fixed. This charter is believed to be a forgery by those who do not subscribe to the notion that the Knights Templar somehow managed to survive as a secretive organization after being officially disbanded in the 14th century. In fact, even if the Knights Templar indeed remained hidden underground the validity of this document is questionable.

The only way I personally can judge the authenticity of this text is by its language. For instance, I am quite surprised to find the phrase “ad majorem Dei gloriam” which was, as far as I can tell, only used once (by pope Gregory the Great) before Ignatius Loyola created the Jesuits’ famous motto. And yet, the author of the charter clearly uses these words as if they were formulaic! Another interesting feature is the phrase “privilegia contuli”.This simply cannot be found in any medieval text that I have access to. This formula, however, is used routinely (usually in the plural – contulimus) in university diplomas of the much later period. Undoubtedly, the creator of the Larmenius Charter had such a diploma! Also, Larmenius calls himself hyerosolimitanus. One has to wonder regarding the last time a Knight Templar was even allowed in Jerusalem… On the whole, the language of the Charter does not appear medieval. It reads very much like restored Classical Latin from the golden age of European universities. Nonethless, a beautiful document (pictured).

I, Brother John Mark Larmenius, of Jerusalem, by the grace of God and the secret decree of the most venerable and holy martyr, the Grand Master of the Soldiery of the temple, to whom be all honor and glory, confirmed by the common council or the Brethren, being endowed with the Supreme Grand Mastership of the whole Order of the Temple, to every one who shall see these Letters Decretal thrice greeting:

Be it known to all, both present and to come, that the failure of my strength, on amount of extreme age, my poverty, and the weight of government being well considered I, the aforesaid humble Master of the Soldiery of the temple, have determined, for the greater glory of God and the protection and safety of the Order, the Brethren, and the statutes, to resign the Grand Mastership into stronger hands.

On which account, God helping, and with the consent of a Supreme Convention of Knights, I have conferred and by the present decree do confer, for life, the authority and prerogatives of Grand Master of the Order of the Temple upon the Eminent Commander and very dear Brother, Francis Thomas Theobald Alexandrinus, with the power, according to time and circumstances, of conferring the Grand Mastership of the Order of the Temple and the supreme authority upon another Brother, most eminent for the nobility of his education and talent and decorum of his manners: which is done for the purpose of maintaining a perpetual succession of Grand Masters, an uninterrupted series of successors, and the integrity of the statutes. Nevertheless, I command that the Grand Mastership shall not be transmitted without the consent of a General Convention of the fellow-soldiers of the Temples as often as that Supreme Convention desires to be convened, and, matters being thus conducted, the successor shall be elected at the pleasure of the knights.

But, lest the powers of the supreme office should fall into decay, now and for ever let there be four Vicars of the Grand Master, possessing Supreme power, eminence, and authority over the whole Order, With the reservation of the rights of the Grand Master, which Vicars of the (Grand Masters shall be chosen from among the alders, according to the order of their profession. Which is decreed in according with the above-mentioned wish, commended to me and to the Brethren by our most venerable and most blessed Master, the martyr, to whom be honor and glory. Amen.

Finally, on consequence of a decree of a Supreme Convention of the Brethren, and by the supreme authority to me committed, I will, declare, and command that the Scottish exemplars, as deserters from the Order, are to be accursed, and that they and the brethren of Saint John of Jerusalem, upon whom may God have mercy, as spoliators of the domains of our soldiery are now and hereafter to be considered as beyond the pale of the Temple I have therefore established signs, unknown to our false Brethren, and not to be known by them, to be orally communicated to our fellow-soldiers, and in which way I have already been pleased to communicate them in the Supreme Convention.

But these signs are only to be made known after due profession and knightly consecrations according to the Statutes, Rites, and Usages of the fellow-soldiery of the Temple, transmitted by me to the above-named Eminent Commander as they there delivered into my hands by the venerable and most holy martyr, our Grand Master, to whom be honor and glory. Let it be done as I have said. So mote it be. Amen.

I, John Mark Larmenius, have done this on the thirteenth day of February, 1324.
I, Francis Thomas Theobaldus Alexandrinus, God helping, have accepted the Grand Mastership, 1324.

And then follow the acceptances and signatures of twenty-two succeeding Grand Masters-the last, Bernard Raymund Fabre, under the date of 1804.